If your scale isn't budging, it's easy to be tempted by a fad diet. "Could carbs be my problem?" you wonder. "Am I eating too much fat?" No, the bottom line is -- repeat after me, folks -- the calorie is king! Plain and simple, you won't shed a single pound without shedding calories first.

How to do that, exactly, is the six-million-dollar question. Yes, chopping carrots, shredding lettuce, and weighing every gram is one option. But all that work is enough to discourage even the best-intentioned dieter. Want to eat your favorite foods and still slim down? Let me share some simple, even sneaky, ways to lose weight. Keep at it until they become second nature, and you'll be dropping pounds before you know it.

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Slice it right. I love pizza, you love pizza, and your family loves pizza. But we also know it's loaded with calories. How to enjoy it without ruining your diet? Top of the list, high-cal extras such as sausage and pepperoni are a major no-no. Instead, pile on as many veggies as you like -- they'll help to fill you up. For the most slimming slices, ask your local pizzeria to place half the normal amount of cheese on top. Your family may not know the difference. You might even try a pie with no cheese; just sprinkle a little grated Parmesan on top.

Have your sandwich open-faced. Take the top off your ham and Swiss or turkey and tomato. By skipping the extra bread, you'll save about 80 calories per sandwich. Want an even lighter lunch? Try a Korean-style sandwich -- beef and light sauce wrapped in a lettuce leaf. It's not just healthy, it's also delicious.

Transform your takeout. When ordering Chinese food, pick a few of your favorite chicken or shrimp dishes as well as some orders of steamed vegetables. Then, in a big bowl, combine the veggies with small portions of the entrées you really love. This way, you get your favorite tastes but with far fewer calories. Many of my clients have called to say, "I never could have given up Chinese food -- but this trick really works!"

Pass the pasta, please! For the record, there is nothing wrong with pasta or any other wheaty carb such as bread or crackers. The problem is the portion size. My rule of thumb for getting the right amount: If you cook a standard one-pound box of pasta, one quarter of what's in the colander has 400 calories. Some people eat twice that much and call it one serving. Eat less and fill up on vegetables instead, tossed into a low-calorie sauce.

Eat veggies or a salad as a first course. Before every dinner, open a bag of frozen vegetables (which you should always keep on hand), zap them in the microwave, and serve as a starter. Or, begin with a salad and a light dressing. When you're finished, you may go on with the meal. But, trust me, you'll eat much less.

Downsize your snacks. In my home, we never buy the big bag of anything. Why? Well, Mr. Weight Loss/Fitness Expert, a.k.a. yours truly, will eat that whole big bag if it's available. So we pick up the lunch-size packs of pretzels and baked chips. That way, I know exactly how many calories I'm eating. I used to kid myself with the old "I'll just have one handful" line -- then two hours later, I'd notice that three quarters of the bag was gone. Or, buy the big bag, but as soon as you bring your groceries into the kitchen, divide the snacks into smaller portions and store in reusable plastic containers. If the big bag says there are 11 servings, create 11 small "bags." You'll save thousands of calories in the long run.

Have your juice on the rocks. One of the reasons Americans have gained so much weight in the past 20 years is because of liquid calories. Think about it. Coke used to come in a 6.5-ounce bottle (80 calories). Now there are 20 ounces (250 calories). There were no Starbucks 500-calorie coffee treats. And many moms don't realize that even the little juice box with the straw has 60 calories. To help curb all those liquid calories, drink everything over ice or cut it with water.